Thursday, May 22, 2014

Moreland Commission Hires Criminal Defense Attorney

I've been trying to limit myself to one post a day, but this news warrants a second:


The commission that had been examining public corruption in New York state government before it was shut down by Gov. Andrew Cuomo has hired a criminal defense attorney as it faces a probe by federal prosecutors, according to people familiar with the matter.

Michael Koenig, a former federal prosecutor, is expected to represent the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption in its dealings with the office of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, the people said. He would function primarily as a replacement for the commission's inside counsel, advising its commissioners as questions arise about their work, the people said.

Mr. Koenig is a partner at Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP, specializing in government investigations.
"With the wind-down of the commission and departure of staff, outside counsel will ensure we fulfill our ongoing responsibilities arising from the referrals we've made to various law-enforcement authorities," a commission spokeswoman said. 

Mr. Cuomo created the Moreland Commission last summer after the state Legislature didn't pass a package of ethics legislation sought by the Democratic governor. The commission turned up evidence of criminal wrongdoing by 10 to 12 lawmakers, The Wall Street Journal has reported, including about a half-dozen who appeared to violate campaign-finance laws.

Mr. Cuomo disbanded the commission in March as part of a deal with lawmakers to create new anti-corruption laws. Mr. Bharara then took over its investigations and sharply criticized the governor for dissolving the investigative body while it had ongoing work.

Mr. Cuomo has said his decision to disband the Moreland Commission was proper, noting that he had always said he would end the investigation if lawmakers agreed to an ethics overhaul.

In recent weeks, federal prosecutors from Mr. Bharara's office also sent a subpoena to former Moreland counsel Kelly Donovan, seeking records from members of the commission, according to people familiar with the matter. Mr. Koenig's hiring was prompted in part by the fact that following the shuttering of the commission, Ms. Donovan, who is executive deputy attorney general for criminal justice, withdrew as the Moreland's chief counsel, these people said. 

A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office declined to comment.

This is good news if you're looking for signs that Preet Bharara wants to get the bottom of just what happened with the Moreland Commission.

Of course the best sign would be Governor Andrew M. Cuomo retaining a criminal defense attorney for the case, but we're not there yet.

8 comments:

  1. Cuomo is the next "Rod Blagojevich".

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    Replies
    1. Oh, man - you don't know how happy that would make me. I don't think we're going to see that happen, but I should wouldn't mind seeing it...

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  2. Just asking. Is this what the MORE leadership in Port Jefferson got in their contract? Wow, they increased their healthcare contributions! That's not a back? And a 0,1,1,1... Is that good? Oh, my, my. Mr. Goldstein MUST be very proud!!! Beth...do your job!

    FROM NEWSDAY
    Read on please.


    The Port Jefferson school district has reached a four-year contract agreement with its teachers that keeps their current salaries in the first year but bumps up annual pay by 1 percent in years two through four, school officials announced Thursday.

    The agreement between the district and the Port Jefferson Teachers Association runs from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2017.

    The contract, approved by the Board of Education Tuesday, includes a 2.85 percent step increase in the first year, half-step increases in years two and four and a step freeze in year three. Step increases are based on accrued years of service and are separate from the overall salary increase.

    lso, one-time payments of $650 will be made to all teachers in years two and three, and teachers who are not eligible to move up a step on the salary schedule in year one will receive a one-time payment of $1,300. "The negotiation process from start to finish -- it was respectful, collaborative and reflective of the economic challenges our community and all communities are facing," said Kenneth Bossert, superintendent of schools.

    The district will realize a savings of about $850,000 over the four-year term of the agreement with its approximately 120 teachers, as compared with the expired contract language. Bossert said the district will be able to preserve its programs and staffing as well as stay within its 1.43 percent tax levy increase cap proposed for the upcoming school year.

    The new agreement also calls for an increase in teachers' health insurance premium contributions, a freezing of stipend rates and an adjustment to bereavement days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not a good contract, I would agree with that...but when you posted it, I thought this was "new" news, but it's a month old. Somehow it passed me by when it first happened...

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    ReplyDelete